Experts, will 165 gr.bullets damage the M14 ?

[Xman]

I know that this has been touched on here and there but I haven't seen a definitive answer yet.

Will occasional use of 165 gr. bullets in my shorty M14 do any damage to my gas system?

150 gr. bullets are fine for just about everything I hunt but I am thinking of using the M14 for moose this year and I am thinking that 165 might be more apropriate.

Thanks !

 

[I <3 M14]

165 gr is fine.

 

[wildphil24]

165 gr is fine.

Okay for the bullet, but what about the powder? Wouldn't you suggest to watch for over-pressure sign with commercial ammo?

I'll be using Federal 180gr SP with a Sadlak grooved piston.

 

[Xman]

Now, seeing how a shorty barrel builds slightly less pressure behind the bullet, wouldn't a heavier bullet rectify that somewhere closer to the original pressures, from before the chop?

 

[Skullboy]

As a general rule, you do not want to use a bullet heavier then 168 grs. Anything heavier will beat up a standard M14 type rifle.

You can build/set up a M14 type to shoot heavier bullets, but I would not go heavier then 175 gr to 180 gr................

 

[Skullboy]

but what about the powder? Wouldn't you suggest to watch for over-pressure sign with commercial ammo?

I'll be using Federal 180gr SP with a Sadlak grooved piston.

If reloading, there are several good M14 friendly powders that will offer good results.....

These are the most common powders:

-WW 748
-H-BLC2 (My Favorite M14 powder)
-IMR 4064
-IMR 4895
-Reloader 15 (M852 & M118LR Match Ammo was used for these Military rounds).

 

[roberti11]

Some more intresting reloading data for Military .308

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/rifle/762mm_ammo.html

 

[Satain]

No better write up then this 1 I read below;
http://mysticplayer.netfirms.com/articles/m305.htm

 

[Skullboy]

For M14 Info, there is no better place then the M14 Firing line forum.

http://m14tfl.com/upload/index.php

All M14/M1A/M305 owners should have a read through that forum.......